Super Rugby

Lions beat Reds in Johannesburg

The last two matches between the teams have been won by the Lions. The three prior to that were all won by the Reds. Overall they have played each other 17 times in Super Rugby and the Lions have won five matches.

In Johannesburg, the teams have met nine times and the Lions have won 2, drawn one and lost six matches.

Between 2000 and 2011 the Reds went through six matches undefeated by the Lions on South African soil. The Reds have however lost their last two matches in South Africa.

The Reds haven’t won away from home since Round 16 in 2015 when they beat the Force. They’ve lost all nine away games since.

While the Lions have won their last seven games at Ellis Park, their longest winning streak ever on home turf, scoring an average of 47 points per game.

Lions coach Johan Ackermann has made 12 changes from the team that lost to the Jaguares.

The teams are out on the pitch, the weather is mild and perfect for running rugby.

Franco Mostert leads the Lions out in his 50th Super Rugby match.

Match detail

We are waiting for the kick-off.

BEEP! Mike Fraser gets the game underway in the City of Gold.

1.00: Elton Jantjies drops a simple ball and the Reds have an attacking scrum on the 22.

3.00: PENALTY! Lions survive some early pressure. Reds pinged for holding. Lions take it quickly and have a knock on advantage.

5.00: Faf de Klerk makes a break and the Lions attack inside the Reds’ 22. Penalty to the Reds. The referee stops play as De Klerk gets medical attention.

6.00: Reds clear and have a lineout on the halfway line.

7.00: The Lions are penalised again. Cooper kicks to the corner and have a lineout.

8.00: Some heavy defence from the Lions repels the Reds’ onslaught but, the visitors keep the ball.

9.00: Frisby puts in a grubber but the Lions end up with the ball. From the lineout the clear.

10.00: Lions win a penalty and are in attacking field position on the Reds’ 22.

11.00: HELD UP! Rohan Janse van Rensburg breaks two tackles and powers over the try line, passes to Jaco Kriel, who charges over but, is held up by Izaia Perese: great defence. Scrum Lions, five metres out.

13.00: Scrum is reset, the ref is not happy with the bind from Ruan Dreyer.

14.00: James slipper’s knee hits the ground; penalty. Lions opt for another scrum. Mr Fraser has another chat to the props about binding.

15.00: Whiteley picks up from the base of the scrum, passes to De Klerk who shifts to Skosan. but the ref blows for obstruction by Janse van Rensburg. Reds ball. Frisby clears.

17.00: Reds attack but Lions turn the ball over and kick deep. Izaia Perese gathers and clears to touch. Both sides probing.

20.00: Reds attack, have a maul but, it is turned over. Lions ball o their 22. The Reds are struggling to match the home team’s forwards.

23.00: De Klerk starts an attack from deep but, Madosh Tambwe, steps into touch near the halfway line. Lineout to the visitors.

24.00: Karmichael Hunt collects a kick and clears his lines. Lions take a quick throw to the front of the lineout but, Malcolm Marx knocks the ball into touch. Reds ball.

25.00: TRY! Ruan Ackermann scores. But it is being checked for two previous knock ons prior to the try. NO TRY. TMO sees something but it is inconclusive from replays. The benefit of the doubt to the Reds. Scrum on their 5m.

26.00: PENALTY! Hunt clears but, Lions have a lineout inside the Reds’ half and win a penalty. They kick to touch.

28.00: Lions set up a driving maul. They drive forward but lose it trying to recycle the ball to the back. Scott Higginbotham looked to have come from the side but, the ref deems it fair. Scrum Reds.

30.00: Lions lose the ball in the lineout. The game is very scrappy. James Slipper is being helped from the field. He went down like he’d been shot by a sniper.

Lions coach Johan Ackermann will be pleased with the final play. His team had declined several kickable penalties for attacking lineouts or scrums. Kriel’s try is a testament to the home team’s persistence.

The Reds have changed their front row but, it has made no difference. The Reds defence has been slack, missing 19 tackles. Their attack even less so, making 76 metres to the Lions’ 236.

The Queenslanders have had some success at the breakdown, winning six turnovers to the hosts’ three.

The halftime score is Lions 15 Reds 0

Johan Ackermann says his team need to control the ball better and the need for calm in scoring positions, is a must.

BEEP! Cooper restarts the second period.

42.00: Moore feeds a lineout and the Reds go wide.

43.00: Reds almost make the breakthrough but, lose the ball. The hosts attack and kick deep. Cooper passes to Frisby to clear. It’s a good kick under pressure from De Klerk.

44.00: The Reds lose the ball in great field position. The lions take the penalty quickly and win another penalty on the Reds 5.

45.00: YELLOW CARD! TRY! The Reds lose a man. De Klerk takes it quickly and sends it wide. Jantjies holds the line and sends Janse van Rensburg over for the try. The Referee is checking for another high tackle on the centre from Quade Cooper.

Izaia Perese is also in trouble for a tip-tackle on Janjies. The Reds could be down to 12 men.

45.00: RED CARD! Cooper is sent off for a high tackle, Reds down to 13.

46.00: The conversion is missed.

47.00: TRY! Madosh Tambwe? It’s overturned by TMO. Phew! It’s all happening at Ellis Park. Hunt almost sent to the bin. Reds could have and should’ve been down to 12. Ref is going to have to keep a lid on this.

49.00: Scrum Lions on their 5m.

50.00: TRY! The pressure is too much for the visitors. The Lions score out wide. Malcolm Marx scores in the corner. De Klerk passes to Janse van Rensburg who sends Marx over thanks to an overlap.

51.00: Jantjies hits the post.

53.00: Penalty to the Lions. Jantjies kicks deep.

54.00: Mapoe is pinged for holding. Great work from George Smith on his 5. Lions would have scored if not for the flanker’s good work after the tackle.

57.00: The Reds are hanging on in Joburg. This could get messy.

59.00: NEARLY! Madosh Tambwe almost scores. What does the winger have to do to get a five-pointer? Lions looking to score at every possession of the ball.

61.00: Substitutions are being sent on for both teams. The Reds will struggle in the final quarter at altitude; all teams do.

62.00: TRY! GAME WELL AND TRUELY OVER. A dominant scrum from the Lions. De Klerk goes left, and Skosan gets a double.

63.00: Jantjies hits the upright but, this time it goes over.

65.00: HATTRICK SKOSAN! The winger gets the ball after his own turnover. Skosan kicks deep and regathers, beats the cover D and is over for his third.